Thermal elastohydrodynamic analysis of mechanical sealsi using finite difference method

Nowadays analysis of mechanical seals is of great importance since it causes improvement in the performance of mechanical systems and it enables one to reduce the leakage in the seal. In this paper a MTM 30 mechanical seal has been analyzed. The analysis has been conducted in both thermal and isothermal modes using finite difference method. The pressure distribution as well as film thickness has been predicted and compared to the published results available in the literature. The results show that considering thermal effects results in an increase in pressure for 16.55% and a reduction in film thickness of 33.4% compared to the situations in which isothermal analysis is conducted. A parametric study has been conducted which evaluates the effect of speed, viscosity, and load on the performance of the mechanical seal. Film thickness, pressure distribution, and film thickness has been studied in this parametric study. The results in this method have been shown to be in good comparison with other results.